(CNN) - The Supreme Court will undertake a major examination of privacy in the digital age, after accepting review Friday of a pair of appeals over whether police must obtain a warrant to search data on the cellphone of a person under arrest.

Criminal suspects in Massachusetts and California were convicted, in part, after phone numbers, text

soundoff(8 Responses)

Rudy NYC

I hate to say it, although I wouldn't want the police rummaging around through my phone or tablet, the fact remains if you get arrested then they look through your wallet should you have one in your possession. How is a digital device any different? It could be stolen for all they know. Besides, if you don't want them going through your device, then don't get yourself arrested in the first place. Problem solved.

January 17, 2014 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Malory Archer

smith

@Malory-The other protests on that day did not involve RPG`s and AK-47`s, to make a comparison is not logical.

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Right, because all protesters protesting a certain subject behave exactly the same way all over the world. Honestly, I'm embarrassed for you.

January 17, 2014 03:55 pm at 3:55 pm |

Tony

Rudy NYC
I hate to say it, although I wouldn't want the police rummaging around through my phone or tablet, the fact remains if you get arrested then they look through your wallet should you have one in your possession. How is a digital device any different? It could be stolen for all they know. Besides, if you don't want them going through your device, then don't get yourself arrested in the first place. Problem solved.
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Not that cops would ever make up stuff just to stop people and search everything in their possession. I live near a town that you simply cannot drive through late in the evening without getting stopped because of the mythical plate light being out. Cops need to be given hard boundaries because right now there are NONE. They can concoct anything and soon you find yourself bent over undergoing a cavity search.

January 17, 2014 04:10 pm at 4:10 pm |

Rudy NYC

Tony wrote:

"Not that cops would ever make up stuff just to stop people and search everything in their possession. I live near a town that you simply cannot drive through late in the evening without getting stopped because of the mythical plate light being out. Cops need to be given hard boundaries because right now there are NONE. They can concoct anything and soon you find yourself bent over undergoing a cavity search."
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Rogue cops and 'stop and frisk' aside for the moment, the police have no right to search you or your vehicle without suspicion of a crime or your consent. A dead taillight is not a crime. I taught my sons to not be intimidated by the police. Many police have been trained in ways to trick you into giving them consent to search your vehicle or person. They don't ask you. They simply tell you what that want to do.

"I want to search your vehicle."

What do you say to the officer? Most people would say yes, or otherwise give consent. I'd ask him why. "May I ask why?"

January 17, 2014 04:25 pm at 4:25 pm |

just asking

Malory Archer
just asking
i give him one term if this is his first offering out of the starting gate. if he stays in there, nyc will go the way of detroit.
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Yeah, except Detroit was totally dependent on the auto industry for its survival. NYC has a great many industries which would enable it to weather the storm in the event an entire industry packs up and leaves town.
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the decline in the auto industry didn't kill detroit. decades of democrat control killed detroit. giving unions everything they wanted without regards to how it would get paid. rampant corruption. spending wildly even when they know they couldn't afford it.

democrats did the same thing to nyc a few decades agao until republican mayors got the city back in good shape. that decline can start all over again with this leftist clown in the mayors office.

January 17, 2014 04:27 pm at 4:27 pm |

anonymous

Malory Archer
smith
@Malory-The other protests on that day did not involve RPG`s and AK-47`s, to make a comparison is not logical.
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Right, because all protesters protesting a certain subject behave exactly the same way all over the world. Honestly, I'm embarrassed for you.
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you are embarrased for him with a totally dumb answer like this from you? too funny!

January 17, 2014 04:28 pm at 4:28 pm |

Tommy G

There is no such thing as privacy anymore. The government has the means of seeing you and listening to you any place on this planet. But don't worry... The government is your friend and here to help you. Really. Just bend over and cooperate and everything will be fine.

January 17, 2014 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |

GonzoinHouston

Just as a theoretical counterpoint, if a cop was allowed to check someone's cellphone after a traffic accident, they could quickly tell if the driver was texting or talking while driving.